Just dropped my camera, lens first, about 5 feet

ZombieArmy · 09-09-2014, 01:56 PM

Onto carpet. Everything seems fine, not seeing any physical damage to the camera or lens, but I'm a bit concerned because 5 feet is no small drop for electronics, but maybe I'm just paranoid.

Is there anything I should look for? The lens was my 35-70mm F zoom.

Here are some out of camera jpegs taken after the camera was dropped.
http://i.imgur.com/cmeieQ4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/aqmwtDb.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jhPYr3w.jpg

The flower was manual focus, the 2 dog photos were auto (I think).

**jatrax** · 09-09-2014, 02:14 PM

If it works it works. Check the lens for function, zoom, manual focus. Check to see if there is any wobble in the lens, might be some that is normal, but excessive might be concern.

I had my k-3 flip over while on the tripod with no ill affect. Except causing near heart failure.

ZombieArmy · 09-09-2014, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Check to see if there is any wobble in the lens, might be some that is normal, but excessive might be concern.

What do you mean by this?

VisualDarkness · 09-09-2014, 02:19 PM

One of my K-5's fell from a table onto wooden floor but no damage found even a long time after. My brother dropped his on a bunch of rocks and scratches is the only thing to show for it. If you don't find anything wrong it's most likely fine, they are made to be tough.

**Kerrowdown** · 09-09-2014, 02:25 PM

Looks like to me from the images posted you've got away with it this time, but that doesn't mean making a habit of it.

**jatrax** · 09-09-2014, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

What do you mean by this?

I have seen the front barrel portion of the lens 'wobble' when it is damaged. Zoom all the way out, barrel extended the furthest, gently wiggle the front of the lens barrel. If it feels fine, you are good. If it can be moved significantly it might be a sign of damage. Some wobble is normal. What is normal differs from lens to lens.

I did not mean to alarm you and if the zoom and focus functions work I would not worry over much about it. I have had lenses, (not Pentax) that took a hit and ended up cocked to one side off the track so to speak. I managed to just pop it back on but it looked ugly at the time.

FrankC · 09-09-2014, 03:46 PM

Based on the photos, I'd say other than meter being fooled by the predominately white areas and underexposing the images, they look perfectly fine.

**kiwi_jono** · 09-09-2014, 05:40 PM

Agree looks ok - look like you have got away with it.
I do know that Pentax makes pretty solid cameras. Over 3 years ago I had my K-x rattle out of my back pack on to a concrete floor and its still going strong.

**dadipentak** · 09-09-2014, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

Onto carpet

I've come to appreciate carpet--it's way better than marble when it comes to lens dropping.

Fedor · 09-10-2014, 04:15 AM - **2 Likes**

I forgot my k-r on the car hood and it was blown at ~100km/h. It fell harshly on the asphalt between lanes. Lens (Tamron 18-200) was broken. Camera was fine (!!!) except AF Points in viewfinder are not highlighted now (like in k-x). I still use it.
My wife was really impressed by Pentax durability. That is why I bought K-5IIs

ZombieArmy · 09-10-2014, 04:27 AM

Well unluckily for me I dropped my camera yet again from a smaller hight, onto a softer surface (clothes) and now the focus ring is completely frozen, will not move a budge.

---------- Post added 09-10-14 at 07:33 AM ----------

I think something is crooked/bent since it's harder to zoom it in and out too.

---------- Post added 09-10-14 at 08:02 AM ----------

Ok so I managed to fix it by snapping the barrel back into position.

I think this lens is cursed with me dropping the camera, or maybe I'm just a serious clutz ._.

**ThorSanchez** · 09-10-2014, 06:04 AM

Had my K-30 with 55-300mm (non-WR) on it while hopping across rocks in a small stream. Slipped, and partially dunked everything for a split second, may have knocked it on a rock but it happened too fast to really tell.

Camera is perfectly fine. Dried out the lens and I think it's fine, but I've been fretting over it for a few weeks. Been taking test shots after I thought some pictures of the kids' soccer game looked blurry with weird bokeh. I'm 90% convinced I'm just paranoid and the shutter speed was too slow for the 200-300mm shots I was taking. But it's still in the back of my mind...

jamesm007 · 09-10-2014, 07:11 PM

Oh yea Pentax bodies really are tough. I know from experience. If you dropped your K-01 that's even better, it is probably stronger because it has few moving parts. It lacks the very prices alignments of mirror to AF module to EV module. In other words there is little to damage in that body. I would not worry at all. If its OK, its OK!

Not to say the mirrored bodied dSLR are not tough as well, they are very tough. A dSLR is a complex sort of expensive precision tool. It can be broken. But it all depends on the lens, and you know just so many factors. Have fun with your camera which ever it is! Forget about the fall.

Basie · 09-11-2014, 08:12 AM

If it works, don't fix it. These cameras can be tough. My k20 fell six feet onto cement and cracked the filter after the ring was bent and otherwise no problems, but later two feet onto tiles and the body was cracked ( still working perfectly ), but the 55-300 bejt something and could not focus. Both fixed now and well

**hjoseph7** · 09-15-2014, 06:16 PM

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

One of my K-5's fell from a table onto wooden floor but no damage found even a long time after. My brother dropped his on a bunch of rocks and scratches is the only thing to show for it. If you don't find anything wrong it's most likely fine, they are made to be tough.

They might be built tough but one of the electrical boards inside the camera can still crack which is what happened to one of my cameras so I had to send it in. However mine fell on hard cement from about 3 feet.

09-09-2014, 01:56 PM	#1
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	Just dropped my camera, lens first, about 5 feet Onto carpet. Everything seems fine, not seeing any physical damage to the camera or lens, but I'm a bit concerned because 5 feet is no small drop for electronics, but maybe I'm just paranoid. Is there anything I should look for? The lens was my 35-70mm F zoom. Here are some out of camera jpegs taken after the camera was dropped. http://i.imgur.com/cmeieQ4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/aqmwtDb.jpg http://i.imgur.com/jhPYr3w.jpg The flower was manual focus, the 2 dog photos were auto (I think).

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09-09-2014, 02:14 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	If it works it works. Check the lens for function, zoom, manual focus. Check to see if there is any wobble in the lens, might be some that is normal, but excessive might be concern. I had my k-3 flip over while on the tripod with no ill affect. Except causing near heart failure.

09-09-2014, 02:16 PM	#3
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Originally posted by jatrax Check to see if there is any wobble in the lens, might be some that is normal, but excessive might be concern. What do you mean by this?

09-09-2014, 02:19 PM	#4
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	One of my K-5's fell from a table onto wooden floor but no damage found even a long time after. My brother dropped his on a bunch of rocks and scratches is the only thing to show for it. If you don't find anything wrong it's most likely fine, they are made to be tough.

09-09-2014, 02:25 PM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,866	Looks like to me from the images posted you've got away with it this time, but that doesn't mean making a habit of it.

09-09-2014, 02:33 PM	#6
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by ZombieArmy What do you mean by this? I have seen the front barrel portion of the lens 'wobble' when it is damaged. Zoom all the way out, barrel extended the furthest, gently wiggle the front of the lens barrel. If it feels fine, you are good. If it can be moved significantly it might be a sign of damage. Some wobble is normal. What is normal differs from lens to lens. I did not mean to alarm you and if the zoom and focus functions work I would not worry over much about it. I have had lenses, (not Pentax) that took a hit and ended up cocked to one side off the track so to speak. I managed to just pop it back on but it looked ugly at the time.

09-09-2014, 03:46 PM	#7
FrankC Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 322	Based on the photos, I'd say other than meter being fooled by the predominately white areas and underexposing the images, they look perfectly fine.

09-09-2014, 05:40 PM	#8
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Agree looks ok - look like you have got away with it. I do know that Pentax makes pretty solid cameras. Over 3 years ago I had my K-x rattle out of my back pack on to a concrete floor and its still going strong.

09-09-2014, 06:17 PM	#9
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by ZombieArmy Onto carpet I've come to appreciate carpet--it's way better than marble when it comes to lens dropping.

09-10-2014, 04:15 AM - 2 Likes	#10
Fedor New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 6	I forgot my k-r on the car hood and it was blown at ~100km/h. It fell harshly on the asphalt between lanes. Lens (Tamron 18-200) was broken. Camera was fine (!!!) except AF Points in viewfinder are not highlighted now (like in k-x). I still use it. My wife was really impressed by Pentax durability. That is why I bought K-5IIs

09-10-2014, 04:27 AM	#11
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210 Original Poster	Well unluckily for me I dropped my camera yet again from a smaller hight, onto a softer surface (clothes) and now the focus ring is completely frozen, will not move a budge. ---------- Post added 09-10-14 at 07:33 AM ---------- I think something is crooked/bent since it's harder to zoom it in and out too. ---------- Post added 09-10-14 at 08:02 AM ---------- Ok so I managed to fix it by snapping the barrel back into position. I think this lens is cursed with me dropping the camera, or maybe I'm just a serious clutz ._.

09-10-2014, 06:04 AM	#12
ThorSanchez Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,807	Had my K-30 with 55-300mm (non-WR) on it while hopping across rocks in a small stream. Slipped, and partially dunked everything for a split second, may have knocked it on a rock but it happened too fast to really tell. Camera is perfectly fine. Dried out the lens and I think it's fine, but I've been fretting over it for a few weeks. Been taking test shots after I thought some pictures of the kids' soccer game looked blurry with weird bokeh. I'm 90% convinced I'm just paranoid and the shutter speed was too slow for the 200-300mm shots I was taking. But it's still in the back of my mind...

09-10-2014, 07:11 PM	#13
jamesm007 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Detroit MI, USA Posts: 508	Oh yea Pentax bodies really are tough. I know from experience. If you dropped your K-01 that's even better, it is probably stronger because it has few moving parts. It lacks the very prices alignments of mirror to AF module to EV module. In other words there is little to damage in that body. I would not worry at all. If its OK, its OK! Not to say the mirrored bodied dSLR are not tough as well, they are very tough. A dSLR is a complex sort of expensive precision tool. It can be broken. But it all depends on the lens, and you know just so many factors. Have fun with your camera which ever it is! Forget about the fall.

09-11-2014, 08:12 AM	#14
Basie Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Windhoek, Namibia Photos: Gallery Posts: 991	If it works, don't fix it. These cameras can be tough. My k20 fell six feet onto cement and cracked the filter after the ring was bent and otherwise no problems, but later two feet onto tiles and the body was cracked ( still working perfectly ), but the 55-300 bejt something and could not focus. Both fixed now and well

09-15-2014, 06:16 PM	#15
hjoseph7 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,051	Originally posted by VisualDarkness One of my K-5's fell from a table onto wooden floor but no damage found even a long time after. My brother dropped his on a bunch of rocks and scratches is the only thing to show for it. If you don't find anything wrong it's most likely fine, they are made to be tough. They might be built tough but one of the electrical boards inside the camera can still crack which is what happened to one of my cameras so I had to send it in. However mine fell on hard cement from about 3 feet.